The San Pedro Sun

Belizean students in Winners Circle of the FCCA poster competitionTwo Belizean students are among the winners of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association’s regional environmental awareness poster competition. Earlier this year, the BTB collaborated with the FCCA to promote and stimulate environmental awareness among Caribbean students. This year, the competition was conducted in two categories: a junior division for children ages 12 years and under and a senior division for children ages 13 -16 years. We are pleased to announce that Jordanny Williams and Nazeem Segura placed among the top students in the Caribbean.
Senior Division:
1st Place – Kerri Bascom – Bahamas
2nd Place – Jordanny Williams – Belize
3rd Place – Emilie van der Waals – St. Maarten
Junior Division:
1st Place – Enya Noel – Grenada
2nd Place – Alisha Kee – Cayman Islands
3rd Place – Nazeem Segura – Belize

Ministry of National Security signs MOU with Peninsula 2020 InitiativeA memorandum of understanding was signed on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 between the Ministry of National Security and the Steering Committee of the Peninsula 2020 Initiative outlining the terms which the Police Department will operate a mobile checkpoint at various places on the Placencia Peninsula with the support and cooperation of the residents of the Peninsula.
The Peninsula 2020 Initiative is a joint undertaking whose steering committee has broad-based community representation from the Placencia and Seine Bight Village Councils, Placencia BTIA (Belize Tourism Industry Association), Placencia Tour Guides Association, Placencia Tour Operators Association, Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development, Placencia Fishermen’s Cooperative, Southern Environmental Association and Placencia Peninsula Community Crime Watch (PPCCW).

Alvaro Gregorio guilty of manslaughter for death of Roberto Jimenez Juarez MarroquinA 38 year-old Alvaro Gregorio was found guilty of manslaughter for the death of 37 year old Roberto Jimenez Juarez Marroquin which occurred in the San Mateo area of Ambergris Caye. Gregorio stabbed Salvadoran national Marroquin to death on October 8, 2008 in the San Mateo Area of San Pedro Town.
The allegation was that on the said date, Gregorio went to the home of his wife, who he had been separated from, and was speaking with her when Marroquin arrived 15 minutes later. A verbal confrontation took place between both men and Gregorio then stabbed Marroquin in the chest with a kitchen knife, which caused him to bleed to death. In court Gregorio, in his defense, gave a statement from the dock in which he didn’t deny that Marroquin died of a stab wound from a fight between them. He told Justice Gonzalez that he didn’t inflict the wound himself and that in fact it happened in self-defense. Gregorio claimed that when Marroquin attacked him with the knife he had to defend himself. He said that Marroquin stabbed at him, and he grabbed the hand with the knife, after which, a struggle ensued. According to Gregorio, they fell on the ground with Marroquin on top. When he saw blood on his shirt, he ran out of the house fearing for his life.

BDF Receives Three Mahindra Vehicles and a John Deere TractorOn Wednesday, October 31, 2012, Minister of National Security Hon. John Saldivar handed over three (3) new Mahindra vehicles and a John Deere Tractor to the Belize Defence Force (BDF).
The three all-terrain vehicles and the tractor were purchased by the Government of Belize and will be assigned to the Infantry Battalions of the BDF which are responsible for border patrols.
Addressing the local media, Hon John Saldivar stated, “”It came about as the result of some of the needs that were expressed to me very early on when I took over the Ministry of National Security. The BDF is in need of several vehicles so that they can get around the country better, so that they can patrol our borders better; and this is only the beginning. Within another 2 months, we should be getting hopefully another 7 vehicles for them, and after that, I believe we’ll be properly able to mobilize around the country.”

PACT and UB Partner for Training Program
Great news about the University of Belize's Environmentsl Research Institute partnering with the Protected Areas Conservation Trust.
"PACT has partnered with ERI via a Medium-Sized Grant of $200,000 to assist in carrying out the project 'National Training Programme for Protected Areas Management in Belize.' The National Training Programme was developed by ERI as part of a larger project entitled 'Strengthening National Capacities for the Operationalization, Consolidation and Sustainability of Belize’s Protected Areas System' which is being implemented by the National Protected Areas Secretariat (NPAS) of the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, and Sustainable Development. The main goal of the National Training Programme is to develop national capacity for protected areas management to enhance and sustain management of the National Protected Areas System. The Programme will also serve to institutionalize training and capacity building for protected areas managers in a holistic approach (first holistic training programme available to protected areas managers in Belize) instead of the piece-meal approach commonly utilized in Belize."

Caye Caulker enjoys silky smooth streets once again!I have often mentioned that the price for our perfectly sandy streets here on Caye Caulker is that pot holes are far too easy to come by after any small amount of rain and sufficient usage!!
However today Tiger was a sight for sore eyes as he and his big truck along with his friend’s grader, were pounding our streets to ensure that they are silky smooth.
For those with bikes, golf carts or even those of us on our two feet will from this weekend onwards feel that movement up and down our island feels a lot more comfortable. No more will those of the fairer sex have to brace themselves on a small trip to the shops on their golf cart and children can care free ride up and down the streets without fear of falling in a hole!!
So thank you to the VC Crew and to all concerned as we once again enjoy traveling on our streets again!!

CTV3

15 Year Old Orange Walkena Killed By Her Step-father In TexasTonight a death in the U.S has hit home as a 15 year old Orange Walk resident, who relocated to the states with her mother back in December 2000, was murdered by her stepfather on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred in Rockwall Texas in the USA and the victim is 15 year old high school student Surie Baeza.
According to international reports, around 7:00pm on Tuesday, Baeza’s mom found here dead in her room with stab wounds to her torso and chest. Newspapers report that the autopsy revealed that Baeza had defensive injuries, indicating that she put up a fight against her attacker. Rockwall police have narrowed Baeza’s untimely death between the hours of 2pm and 4pm on Tuesday. On Thursday, Rockwell Police made a breakthrough in the murder case as Baeza’s attacker, who happens to be her stepfather, confessed to the crime. Forty one year old Juan Enrique Torres, who is also from Orange Walk, no longer lived with Baeza’s mother. Torres confessed to Rockwall investigators that he stabbed Suri multiple times in the chest with a kitchen knife when he flew into a rage after they argued about money and going to a pawn shop. Torres called the police department Thursday afternoon and said he wanted to talk. After several hours at the county jail, Torres came out clean and confessed to Baeza’s murder through a written confession that he handed over to police.

Cruz's Accused Murderer Arraigned To Court Today fourteen men appeared before the Orange Walk Magistrates Court to answer to charges ranging from murder, rape and burglary. When it comes to the murder charge, 34 year old Fidencio Camara, a laborer of Guinea Grass Village, accused of the October 28th murder of 56 year old cane farmer Manuel Cruz from the Village of Guinea Grass, appeared before the court today. As the charge was read to Camara, Magistrate Dale Cayetano informed him that no plea will be taken since the matter is an indictable one and can only be heard before the Supreme Court. As a result, Camara was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until his next court date scheduled for November 30th 2012.
On October 28th at around 10:00am Cruz along with a group of men including Fidencio Camara was socializing in front of Bai Li Chinese Store in Guinea Grass when a highly intoxicated Camara approached Cruz, took out a knife, and stabbed him on the chest and hand. The deceased walked away from the area and collapsed moments later on the road side. Not satisfied with what he had done, Camara followed Cruz and stabbed him repeatedly. Cruz received eight stab wounds to the left side of the back, once on the centre of the chest and twice on the right hand just behind the elbow. The motive behind Cruz’s murder is believed to be an act of revenge. Thirty years ago, on December 6th 1981, Cruz was accused of murdering two individuals and injuring three more. One of the murdered victims was Leopoldo Camara, the father of Fidencio Camara who was six years old when his father was killed. Cruz was charged for both murders and served 7 years in jail before he was released from prison.

Taxi Driver Charged For Drug TraffickingA resident from Corozal was charged with drug trafficking after he was caught with cannabis at the Belize Mexico Border. On Wednesday October 31st, at around 4:00 in the evening, Corozal Police visited the Belize Northern Border where they conducted a search on the vehicle of 63 year old taxi driver of Ranchito Village in the Corozal District, Alberto Williams. Williams had just driven into Belizean territory from the Mexican border.
During the search, police found a transparent bag suspected to contain cannabis in the back seat cushion. The suspected drugs weighed 1029 grams. As a result, Williams was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. The taxi is being kept as exhibit.

Two Charged For Rape Of Fourteen Year Old MinorAlso appearing in court this morning were 19 year old Belizean construction worker of Burrell Boom Morgan Baptist and 18 year old Belizean construction worker of Double Head Cabbage Tyrick Thompson. Both men are accused of rape and unlawful carnal knowledge against a 14 year old minor from the Orange Walk District. Both men were denied bail this morning and were remanded to prison until November 30th. Baptist and Thompson were informed that after ninety days they can apply for bail at the Magistrates Court or can apply before at the Supreme Court.
Both men are accused of raping a 14 year old minor on Friday October 26th while in the Village of Trail Farm in the Orange Walk District. The minor reported to police that at about 1:00pm on Friday, she and four other students visited a house located on Cotton Street where they met four young men. The group began socializing and consuming alcohol. The minor passed out and when she regained consciousness she realised that one of the men was having sexual intercourse with her. The minor was able to push the individual away and at that instance another young man had his way with her. When the individuals finally left, the 14 year old called a friend who picked her up and took her home.

International Sources

Wisconsin-designed trail cameras capturing wilderness across the globeThere's hardly any spot on earth not covered by a camera these days and, increasingly, wilderness has become the domain of Wisconsin-designed trail cameras.
Reconyx and Cuddeback, makers of motion-triggered cameras used by hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts, are based in Holmen and De Pere, respectively.
Both brands can be found on nearly every continent, with scientists using the equipment to capture images of rare and endangered animals. Company President Beth Lax has a picture of two jaguars in Belize - with one of them looking straight into the lens of a trail camera. She also has a picture of an eagle landing on its kill.
Cuddeback says it's the oldest trail camera manufacturer. It was started in 1984 by Mark Cuddeback, a mechanical engineer who lived in Milwaukee and wanted a motion-triggered camera to scout game on his hunting property in northern Wisconsin.
He built a camera for himself, and, in the basement of his home, began making them for other hunters.

Teaching stint allows time to exploreNicole Nocera of Butler found her three-month trip to Belize this spring to be ... Nocera, who lived in Belize from March to May, taught in a Belizean school to ...